We were meeting my parents in Amsterdam and had planned to arrive a few days early but found Amsterdam fully booked. For the same price as a 20 bed dorm in a hostel in Amsterdam we got a "late minute room type deal" in Utrecht. And this was the beginning of our charming adventure

Arriving
Eurostar to Brussels £59 (2 hours) plus a local return of approx £40 (3 hours). A very relaxed way to arrive

Accommodation
4* hotel - will review elsewhere.. great value for money at less than E80 per night.

Things to do

Old Town
Lovely streets of cafes and independent shops. Frequented by the locals who were lapping up the sunshine. From quirky fashion, wooden toys, excellent kitchen wear or a new bicycle bell it's all here. Or drop down to the canal side for excellent food.

Canal Cruise
On the corner of Lange Viestra and Oude Gracht Weerdzijde was the canal cruise. Leaving every 30mins in late May. The tour was live and because they had some english people on board they gave the talk in english too!! .. Much better than the recorded commentry on our tour in Amsterdam.
Canals are much smaller and they action is right at eye level.

Canoeing
Although we didn't do this.. we thought it looked fun and really accessible for anyone over twelve. We noted the hire location was at the north eastern end of Oude Gracht Weerdzijde.

Market
Saturday is the food market located Vredenburg area. I sampled so many different dutch cheeses that I skipped breakfast. My husband was nearly ill watching the dutch custom of eating the whole herrings dipped in onion eaten in two bites by the local men. I personally ate more soft nougat that is good for any person.

Flower Market
This was open air market and just lovely. Peonies for E5 for two bunches!! Amazing. Janskerkhoff. Saturday

Fabric Market
Saturday. Breedstrat (I think!!). Lovely choice of fabrics at great prices.

Things to avoid
Hoog Catharijne - largest mall in Netherlands. Just because it is large does not mean it is nice. Full of chain shops. Only useful for the Albert Heine supermarket. Better alternative is shops in the old town.

Cinema
We had a great laugh going to see Startrek at the local bioscoop. The great advantage is that most films are subtited so no problems there. We had a little laugh as the screen in the 100 person cinema seemed really small.. I think that we are spoilt in london. We were enjoying the movie and right in the middle of an action scene when the movie said "pauze" and then went to advertising of washing machines and crematoriums ... It was the intermission. !!! . Not the big screen excitment we were hoping for.